Public Records Request

Public Access to Files & Records

In general, files and records are public records and may be reviewed by anyone upon request during normal office hours.

Certain files, records, or documents may be exempt from public access under certain provisions of the California Government Code. Material determined by this department to be within the exempted status will be made available only upon specific approval of the city attorney.

Procedures & Conditions

The easiest way to make a records request is to visit the City's public records request portal by clicking on this link: NextRequest Records Portal.

All persons seeking to review records may submit a request online, orally or in writing. Records can be requested using the Records Request Form (PDF), however, the requester is not required to complete the form in order to inspect public records. Written requests should be submitted to the City Clerk, Fort Bragg City Hall, 416 North Franklin Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437; by fax: 707-961-2802; or via email. Verbal requests can be made by calling the City Clerk's office at 707-961-2823, ext. 104.

All non-exempt public records responsive to a request will be made available for inspection during normal business hours.

A person may inspect the non-exempt public records at a time and in a place that will not disrupt from the city's day-to-day operations.

All inspections of non-exempt public records must be made in a city office, and in the presence of a city employee.

The original copy of the non-exempt public record must not leave the designated department office. However, upon payment of the direct cost of duplication, the city may duplicate a copy of the record for the requester.

All persons reviewing non-exempt public records must be advised that the records must not be removed from any file, destroyed, damaged, written on, marked, or changed in any way.

All persons requesting public records shall be notified of the city's duplication fee: $0.25 per single-sided copy; $0.40 for double-sided copy. The complete listing of charges for public records can be found on page 6 of 20 of the City's Fee Schedule (PDF).

Duplication of an official building plan will not be produced by the city, until the city receives written permission to do so from (i) the licensed professional who prepared the plan(s,) and (ii) the building owner.

The city must respond to a request within 10 days from receipt. The city may extend the response time for an additional 14 days under limited circumstances.